Door-operating mechanism



M. GILMORE DOOR OPERATING mimmsm Filed May 16, 1921 Mu; LAND G/LMORE- INVEiv T011.

I if v w I MM ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 25, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1.

,MILLARD erm vronnor OAK P Rn mmoIs.

noon-OPERATING'MEoHAnIs 4 Application filed May 16, 1921. serial No. 470,153.

T all whom it may concern Be it known that L lVlILLARD citizen of the United States, residing at Oak Park, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Door-Operating Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement inmeans for operating elevator and other doors from a distance,whether said doors move vertically or horizontally and whether a single door or a plurality of door sections are used in closing the door opening, More specifically my invention consists in'means for doing the above electrically and particularly in providing one or more electric solenoids for each door or door section cooperating with a suitable plunger or'plungers and connections extending from the plunger 01' plungers to the .door or door sections and suitable electric circuits extending from the windings of the: solenoid or solenoids to switching mechanism located at the desired point of control and connected with a suitable source of electriccurrent;

- My invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying. drawings showing a preferred embodiment thereof, in which l r Fig. 1 illustrates myinvention as applied to two vertically movable door sections used to close a single elevator opening,

Fig. 2 shows the'parts of Fig. 1 in their position assumed to open the elevator opening,:and

Fig. 3 shows in a diagrammatic view, my invention as applied to a horizontally movable elevator door.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

As shown i Fig. 1, my constructlon con-- sists of upper-andlower door sections and 11 employed toclose an opening 12 through a wall to an elevator. Suitable vertical guidesnot shown, maybe employed to maintain said door sections in the same vertical plane as they are moved to or from their open posltion shown in Fig. 2.

The section 10 has projectingfrom its lower portion, brackets 13, 14 to -which cables 15, 16 are secured, which cablesextend upwards and around sheaves 17, 18 having fixed supports and then downwards to engage the upper ends of the plungers 19,

GILMORE, a i

of the solenoids 21, 22. The lower ends of the plungers 19, 20 have connected with them the cables or rods 23, 24 extending through the solenoids 25, 26 and secured to the brackets 27, 28 projecting from the lower portion of the door section 11. It willv be seen that the construction described forms counterbalanced system and forease of operation it is desirable that the door sec tions shall be of substantially the same weight. Where thisisnot the case suitable counterweights may be connected to the lighter door section, as for example, where thefsection 10 is heavier than the section 11, counterweights 29 may be connected to the section 11. In some cases it may be desired to use but a single door section as foreX- ample the section lO, to close the elevator openingjand in this case all that is necessary is to make the counterweights 29 together of substantially the weight of the section 10. The plungers 19 and 20 are of magnetic material such as soft iron or steel and they and the windings of the solenoids are so pro portionedthat energization of the solenoidsv 21 and 22 movessaid plungers and therefore the door sections to the position shownv in Fig; 1 to close the opening 12 and energiza tion' of the solenoids 25 and 26 moves the plungers and door sections to the position. shown in Fig. 2 to openthe opening 12.

The circuit connections for operating the solenoids are as follows: J

Main feed wire 30, from any suitable. source of electric current not shown is connected with contacts 32 and 33 of control switches S and S respectively for closing and opening the door sections, and one terminal of each of the control solenoids 34 and 35. The other terminals of the solenoids 34 and 35 are connected by wires 36 and 37 with the push buttons or operatin switch bars 46 and 47 for connecting the contacts 32, 40 and 33, 41 respectively by operation ofthe cores 48 and 49 connected respectively with said{ switch bars llPOlh energization of the corresponding solenoids 34 and 35. The cores 4S and 49 are connected by a lever 50 of insulating material, pivotally supported at 51 to insure that both of the control switches cannot be closed at the same time.

It will be observed that the current required to operate the solenoids 34, 35 is small relatively to the current required to operate the solenoids 21, 22, 25 and 26 on account of the small amount of work required to be done by the solenoids 34, 35. This permits locating the control switches S, S near the elevator doors as is desirable to reduce power loss in the wiring, and at the same time the switches 38 and 39 may be located at any remote point desired without material loss of power.

From the circuit connections described it will appear that operation of the switch 38 energizes solenoid 34 and operation of switch 39 energizes solenoid 35. Upward movement of contact bar 46 connects contacts 32 and 40 thus connecting the upper terminals of solenoids 21 and 22 through wire 42 with feed wire 30 and energizing said solenoids. Upwardmovement of contact bar 47 conneets contacts 33 and 41 thus connecting the lower terminals of solenoids 25 and 26 through wire 43 with feed wire 30 and energizing said solenoids.

As a result, operation of the switch 38 energizes solenoids 21 and 22 and moves plnngers 19 and 20 to their upper position, closing the door sections 10 and 11 and operation of the switch 39 energizes the solenoids 25 and 26 and moves the plungers 19 and 20 to their lower position, opening the door sections 10 and 11.

In the construction shown in Fig. 3, a single door section 10 is used and has secured to its upper portion wheels 52 resting on a track 53 to support said door section for moven'ient horizontally to open and close an elevator or other opening 54. Cables and 56 extend from the upper portion of the door section 10 in opposite directions horizontally and around guide sheaves 57 and downwards and are connected with the plungers 20 and 19 of the solenoids 22 and 25 respectively for closing and opening the door section 10 I I By providing the solenoids 22 and 25 with circuit connections and operating devices the same as described above for the solenoids 22 and 25, the door section 10 may be operated in the same manner described above for the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and with the same advantages.

It will be observed that if desired the solenoid mechanism may be directly connected to the doors to be operated, for example with the construction shown in Fig. 3, the solenoids may be'placed in horizontal position and the plunger-s may be connected directly with the door 10 and that the operation of the system will be substantially as described above.

It will be observed that swinging doors may be opened and closed by the use of substantially the same means described above, for example using the operating devices shown in Fig. 3, the cables 55 and 56 may lee connected with the door or with a bracket carried by the door at a point sufliciently re moved from the hinged edge of the door so that the operation of one of the solenoids 22 and 25, for example the solenoid 25 will open the door and the operation of the other of said solenoids, for example the solenoid 22, will close the door.

Again, it will be apparent that shutter doors of the type that roll up on cylinders to open the doorways, may be opened and closed by the use of substantially the same means described above, for example, using the operating devices shown in Fig. 3, the cables 55 and 56 may be connected together and either of the sheaves 57 and 58 may be rigidly secured to the shaft or end stud carrying the cylinder for receiving the shutter door, for which arrangen'ient operation of one of the solenoids 22 and 25, for example the solenoid 25 will turn said sheave, for example the sheave 57, and the cylinder rigidly secured thereto to wind up the shutter door on said cylinder to open the doorway and the operation of the other of said solenoids, tor example the solenoid 22 will turn said sheave and cylinder in the reverse direction to unwind the shutter door to close the doorway.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the magnetic plunger-s, or cores, 19 and 20 are shown of a length substantially equal to the height of each door section, or more; also, it will be observed that the combined length of the alined upper and lower solenoids is about equal to the height of the door-opening, or passage-way; and, also, that the magnetic plungers, when centered in either the upper solenoids or the lower solenoids, project somewhat into the other solenoids. In such a construction, the plungers will be responsive to either set of solenoids and will positively actuate the door sections the full distance of their movement. Furthermore, the plunger-s tend to seek equilibriun'i in the upper set or the lower set of solenoids, as the case may be, so that there is automatically exerted a slowing up or checking action near the end of the movement ol the doorsections in either direction. The solenoids are fixedly secured to the wall or to the guides at the lateral edges of the door-opening in any desired manner. The improved mechanism requires little space and can readily be applied to doors already installed, as is obvious.

While I have shown my invention in the particular embodiment above described, it

will be understood that I do not limit myself to this exact construction as I may employ equivalents known to the art at the time of the filing of this application without departing from the. scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

,1. As a means for operating doors, the combination of a door movable inthe plane of the door to open or close an opening, cables extending, from the door, magnetic plungers connectedwith'said cables, solenoids for actuating said plungers to. open and'closesaid door, electric circuits extending from said solenoids, two.control switches in said circuits for actuating the door opening or door closing circuits as desired, interacting devices connected with said switches for preventing simultaneous closure of both said switches,'said control switches being electromagnetically operated, operating circuits extending from the operating means of said switches, and operating switches in said operating circuits for selectively operating said control switches, whereby said operating switches may belocated at a point remote from said door.

2. As a means for operating doors, the combinatlon of adoor movable 1n the plane of the door to open orclose an opening, said door being movable vertically, cables extending from the door, magnetic plungers connected with said cables, solenoids for actuating said plungers to open and close said door, a counterweight substantially counterbalancing the weight of said door, electric circuits extending from said solenoids, two control switches in said circuits for actuating the door opening or door closing circuits as desired, and interacting devices connected with said switches for preventing simultaneous closureof both said switches.

3. As a means for operating doors, the combination of a door movable in the plane of the door to open or close an opening, said door being movable vertically, cables extending from the door, magnetic plungers connected with said cables, solenoids for actuating said plungers to open and close said door, a counterweight substantially counter balancing the weight of said door, electric circuits f extending from said solenoids, two control switches in saidcircuits for actuat ing the door-opening or door closing circuits desired, interacting devices connected with said switches for preventing simultaneous closure of both said switches,-said control switches being electromagnetically operated, operating circuits extending from the operating means of said switches, and operating switches in said operating circuits for selectively operating'said control switches, whereby said operating switches may be located at a point remote from said door.

4. As a means for operating doors, the combination of a door movablein the plane of the door to open or close an opening, said door being movable vertically, a counterweight connected with said door substantially counterbalancing the weight of the same, two cables extending from said door,

a magnetic plunger connected with each cable, two solenoids for actuating each plunger, whereby movement of said plungers in'either direction by energization of the corresponding solenoids moves said plungers to positions to be actuated by the other solenoids associated therewith, electric cir cuits extending from said solenoids, two control switches in said circuits for actuating the door opening or door closing circuits as desired, and interacting devices connected with said switches for preventing simultaneous closure of both said switches.

5. As a means for operating doors, the combination of a door movable in the plane of the door to open or close an opening, said door being movable vertically, a counterweight connected with said door substan- 'said control switches being electromagnetically operated, operating circuits extending from the operating means of said switches, and operating switches in said operating circuits for selectively operating said control switches, whereby said operating switches may be located at a point remote from said door.

6. As a means for'operating doors, the combination of two door sections movable vertically in the plane of said sections away from. each other to open the door and towards each other to close the door, cables connecting said sections to counterbalance the weight of one said section against the other, magnetic plungers connected with said cables, solenoids for actuating said plungers to move said sections in either direction as desired, electric circuits extendtea-acting devices connected with said switches for preventing sinnzltaneous closure of both said switches, said control switches being clectromagnetically operated, operating circuits extending from the operating means of said switches, and operating switches in said operating circuits for selectively operating said control switches, whereby said operating switches may be located at a point remote from said door.

7. As a means for operating doors, the combination of two door sections movable vertically in the plane of said sections away from each other to open the door and towards each other to close the door, cables connecting said sections to counterbalance the weight of one said section against the other, a magnetic plunger connected with each ca ble, two solenoids for actuating each plunger, whereby movement of said plungers in either direction by energization of the corresponding solenoids moves said plungers to positions to be actuated by the other solenoids associated therewith, electric circuits extending from said solenoids, two control switches in said circuits for actuating the door opening or door closing circuits as desired, interacting devices connected with said switches for preventing simultaneous closure of both said switches, said control switches being electromagnetically operated, operating circuits extendingfrom the operating means of said switches, and operating switches in said operating circuits for selectively operating said control switches, whereby said operating switches may be located at a point remote from said door.

8. A means for closing and opening a passageway through a wall, comprising the combination of two door sections disposed one above the other in vertical position adjacent said passageway, a first cable extending upwardly from each end of the upper door section and secured thereto, a guiding sheave having a fixed support to receive each said first cable and direct it downwardly, a solenoid plunger connected with each downwardly extending first cable, a second cable extending downwardly from each of said plun ers and secured thereto, the lower end of each of said second cables being connected to one end of said lower door section, and solenoids around said cables and plungers to move said door sections away from each other to open said passageways by actuation of certain of said solenoids and to move said door sections towards each other to close said passageway by actuation of others of said solenoids, whereby said door sections are connected in counterbalanced relation.

9. A means for closing and opening a passageway through a wall, comprising in com-- bination, two door sections disposed one above the other in vertical position adjacent said passageway, a guiding sheave journaled on a stationary support near each upper corner of said passageway, counterbalance connecting means connected with each lateral edge of said upper door section and extending therefrom around the corresponding sheave and connected with the corresponding edge of the lower door section, a solenoid plunger forming part of one of said connecting means, a first solenoid for moving said plunger in a direction to open said door sections, and a second solenoid for moving said plunger in a direction to close said door sections.

10. In means of the character set forth, the combination of a pair of oppositely moving door sections adapted to be connected in counterbalanced relation, flexible connections between said sections, including magnetic plungers, sheaves about which said flexible connections pass, upper and lower solenoids coacting with said plungers, and electric circuits connected with said solenoids and equipped with circuit controlling means enabling the lower solenoids to be energized to effect separation of the door sections and the upper solenoids to be energized to effect closure of the door sections,

11. In means of the character set forth, the combination of a pair of vertically mow able door sections, flexible connections between said door sections, and supporting means therefor disposed and arranged to counterbalance the door sections with rela tion to each other and permit movements in opposite directions with respect to each other, said flexible connections including magnetic plungers, and solenoids coacting with said plungers and adapted to reciprocate the same a distance corresponding with the distance of movement of the door sections.

12. In means of the character set forth, the combination of a pair of oppositely moving door sections adapted to vertical, movement, counterbalance connections between said door sections and supporting means therefor, said counterbalance connections including magnetic cores, and solenoids associated with said cores and equipped with electric circuits provided with circuit controlling means.

18. In means of the character set forth, the combination with a wall provided with a door opening, of a pair of oppositely moving door sections adapted to vertical move ment, solenoids fixedly mounted at opposite sides of v the door opening, flexible counterbalance connections between said door sections, including magnetic plungers adapted to operate through said solenoids, sheaves carried by said wall and supporting said flexible connections, and electric circuits connected with said solenoids and proopening .Vided with circuit controlling means whereby the solenoids may be so energized as to open or close the door sections, at will.

14. In means of the character set forth, the combination with a wall provided with a door opening, of a pair of oppositely moving door sections adapted to vertical movement, solenoids fixedly mounted at opposite sides of the door opening, said solenoids extending substantiallythe length of the door and including upper solenoids adapted to move the door sections in one direction and lower solenoids adapted to move ible counterbalance connections between said door sections, including magnetic plungers adapted to operate through said solenoids, sheaves carried by said wall and supporting said flexible connections, and electric circuits connected with said solenoids and provided with circuit controlling means, whereby such solenoids may be so energized as to open and close the door sections, at will.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 12th day of May, A. D. 1921.

MILLARD GILMORE, 

